ESB Networks has formally issued High Court proceedings against the Independent Workers Union seeking damages and other reliefs arising from its current campaign of industrial action.
A spokesperson said an action for damages had been issued against not just the union, but its Regional Secretary Gerry Corbett.
The company described the industrial action as "irresponsible" at a time when the country is still facing into the challenges posed by the pandemic - and called on the IWU to desist from further action.
It confirmed that there has been "limited impact" to electricity customers as result of the industrial action to date, but stressed that contingency planning continues ahead of tomorrow' strike "and beyond".
"We are particularly concerned that the IWU has not co-operated with emergency cover since this action began on Monday 19 April. This is unprecedented in ESB's experience," the company stated.
ESB Networks acknowledged what it called the "strong support" provided by our staff who are members of the affiliated trade unions (Connect, Unite and SIPTU, who are recognised to represent network technicians).
The company said it was seeking to protect its "well-established" industrial relations structure, which had enabled a stable environment in which it had progressed change and built out critical national infrastructure.
It rejected IWU allegations that the company had not complied with the Employee (Information and Consultation) Act of 2006 - and accused the union of failing to trigger the act "in line with the clear provisions of that legislation."
Despite contending that the industrial action is unlawful, the company has stopped short of seeking an injunction to prevent tomorrow's planned one day strike from going ahead.
That stoppage was originally scheduled to last for two days, but last night the IWU announced that it was reducing the duration to just 24 hours.
However, it announced two further strike days on Tuesday and Wednesday next.
It has also been operating a work to rule since last Monday week.
ESB Networks has not yet specified precisely what damages the company is seeking to recoup from the IWU as a consequence of the disruption.
Meanwhile, technicians belonging to the IWU have been complying with a management instruction to return their vehicles to their allocated base depots, meaning they will have to make their own way home.
Normally the staff in question are permitted to park their vans at home in order to facilitate emergency call-outs.
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